Market basket



@ca /15,1940.` FROKOL v2,218,360

,MARKET BASKET Filed Jan.. 18, 193s 5 sheets-sheet v:L'

Oct. 15, 1940.

F. ROKOL MARKET BASKET 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. l8, 1958 F. ROKOL Oct. `l5, 1940.

MARKET BASKET Filed Jain. 18, 193s 5 sheets-sheet s /We/azlw,

i '6 I differ/@ey Oct. 15,1940. l P RQKOL v 2,218,360

MARKET BASKET Filed Jan. 18, 41938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 @Wmgy F. ROKOL MARKET BASKEAl l Oct. 15, 1940.

Filed Jan. 18, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ya, e

Patented Oct. 1 5, 1940 UNITED sra'irasl rA'rN'r oI-Ficls comms.

This invention relates to improvements in market baskets, and this application is in part a continuation of my `,prior application for Market basket, Serial No. 162,660, illed September '1,

One of the main objects of this invention is to providea secure and emcient market basket of ioldable material, such as corrugated paper, of single face and double face or multiple face ma l terial, ber board, and the like, wherein the foldable parts of the body include compound interlocking features which hold said parts securely in their set-up position, without any need of cleats, staples, or any other separate securing means;

l which basket is provided with a handle that is easily attached to and detached from the basket body, and the handle can be readily pressed down onto the basket, so that the baskets may be stacked upon each other; and which basket is 2a provided vwith concealed partition means to separate and protect the different layers of fruits and vegetables, said partition means being readily insertable in and removable from the basket body.

Another object of this invention is to provide a basket of ioldable material which has its foldable parts doubly secured and interlocked `by its own interlocking `means, without need of any separate locking elements, so that the foldable parts are positively held together and will not draw apart altho the basket is heavily loaded:

' Another object is to provide a strong basket of this type which includes double side and end walls, thereby providing double strength, and also providing a neat exterior, -and a smooth and even interior to avoid bruising the fruits and vegetables therein.

4 A more particular object of this invention is to provide such a double walled basket wherein the o handle is readily attachable and detachable, and normally extends above the basket to be readily grasped; but isarranged to be readily depressible between the double walls, to bring the upperpari; of the handle substantially ush with the basket body, so that the baskets can be stacked one upon the other.

Another particular object of this invention is to provide a double walled basket comprising partition means positioned vbetween the layers of fruits and vegetables, to prevent bruising or injuring them and especially protect the lower Q layer, and which is readlly inserted in orremovedfrom the basket and yet is not observable from the outside thereof.

These and various'other objects and advan-v tages are attained with this invention, as will become apparent from the following description, taken ln connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the inventionv is shown insome of its preferred forms; it beingl understood that 5 various other arrangements and forms of construction may be adopted in carrying out the objects and purposes of this invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is-a plan view of 'the blank of foldable 10 folding operationv before either one ofthe double locking means is in the locked position.

Fig. 4 is a similar perspective view, but showing 20 the inner locking means in the locked position.

Fig. 5 is a-perspective view of the complete market basket made according to this form of the invention.

Figs. 6 and '7 are enlarged vertical sectional 25 views, taken respectively on lines 6-6 and 1-1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a partial horizontal sectional view, taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of thehandle for 30 this basket.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the same form of basket, but constructed from single face 4corrugated ber board instead of double face material. 35

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view, taken on line l|'-I| of Fig. 10. j

Fig. 12 isa perspective view of the basket having its end members arranged in a slightly modii'led form. 0

Fig. 13 is an enlarged vertical sectional view 4 thru the end part of this form, taken on line l3-I3 of Flg.12.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of an end part of this form of basket, at an early stage of the end 45 folding operation. Fig. 15 is a plan view of the blank of material from which the basket with this. form of end means is made. Y

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the basket show- 50 A ing another modified `form of end means.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of an end part o! this lform, at an early stage of the end folding operation. v

Fig. '18 is an ,enlarged vertical sectional view 55 A end walls.

thru the end part of this form, taken on line |8-I8 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the blank of material.

from which thebasket withthis form of end means is made.

The drawings illustrate this improved market basket in a few of its most-desirable arrangements and forms of construction, showing the same adapted to be provided in single .face as well as in multiple face corrugated material, and indicating a few of its various forms of double interlocking means between the wall sections. In either arrangement or form the side walls are of double material, and the end walls also contain double material and double interlocking means, providing a strong and securely formed basket; and the handle is readily depressible thereon to facilitate stacking the baskets on each other.

In theform shown in Figs. l to 8 inclusive, this improved market basket comprises a basket body 28 formed of a single blank of foldable material, which is readily set up to provide a strong basket and is readily collapsible; also a handle 2| which extends above `the body and is arranged to be readily attachable and detachable, and can also be depressed onto the body, so that the baskets may be stacked one upon the other when filled; and a partition 22 is provided which is readily insertable and removable, being adapted to prevent bruising and injuring the contents, especially the lower layer, of tomatoes, peaches, or other fruits and vegetables, said partition being fully concealed by the basket walls. These three parts are detachably combined to provide a strong market basket, without the use of any separate securing elements, and also to provide a neat exterior, and a' smooth and even interior to avoid injuringthe contents.

The basket body 20 consists of a single blank of foldable material, such as corrugated paper,

which may be of single face or of multiple face corrugated material, also of heavy fiber board, and the like, and comprises the bottom 23 from which the outer, sections 24 of the two side walls are folded upward along the fold lines 25. From the top edge part 23 of each outer section 24 extends the inner section 24' of the side wall down into engagement with the bottom' 23. The

top edges 28 are each provided with a slot 21 for receiving the handle. The outer sections 30 of the end walls are bent up from the bottom 23, along the fold lines 3l, and the inner section 3 0' of each end wall extends from the top edge 32 of the outer section down the bottom 23.

The usual style of baskets, made of such foldable material, generally contain single interengaging means on the wall sections to retain the parts in the set-up position, which are inclined to loosen and unlock when the basket is heavily loaded, and those baskets usually require and are therefore equipped with separate securing elements, as cleats, staples or stitches, to hold the foldable parts properly in the set-up posif tion.

With the present invention applicant obviates any need of such separate securing elements, by providing an improved compound interlocking arrangement between the foldable parts, and in the form shown in Fig. l, this is preferably accomplished by using a compound set of interlocking means between the side walls'and the One set of these interlocking means includes tongues or tabs 33 extending from the lower end portions at the sides of the inner end into engagement with the handle.

and the companion flap being provided with a similar notch 38 extending from the top edge into the flap thereby providing a tongue 38 at the end of each flap, beyond each notch 38. 'I'hese notches and tongues interengage, as best shown in Fig. 4, to interlock and securely hold the end walls and side walls in the set-up position. A short tab 40 `extends from each inner section 24 of the side wall, and a tab 40 together with a notched flap 31 extend across the entire end, as indicated in Fig. 4. The inner end section 30' is folded inwardly over the interlocked flaps 31 and short .tabs 40, whereafter the tabs 33 are engaged in notches 34, thereby providing another interlocking means between the end walls and the side walls.

The flaps 31 with their interengaged tongues 38 herein provide the main interlocking and retaining means, and the tongues 33 on the foldedover linner end section 30', together with the notclies 34, provide the second set of interen- 'ga'ging means, which reinforces and positively holds the other in position, thereby providing double or compound interlocking means for securely and positively holding thebasket body in its set-up position. 'I'he locking elements are likewise releasable so that 'the basket may be collapsed for readily stacking or transmitlting the unfolded baskets.

The handle 2| is readily attachable to and detachable from the basket, said handle being preferably constructed'from a pair of resilient wires which are twisted together at their main intermediate portions, as indicated in the drawings, providing the upper hand-engaged part from which arms 43 diverge downwardly, having prongs 44 extending from the lower ends. 'I'he arms 43 are flexed or pressed together to insert the prongs 44 vthru the slots 21 von the side walls, so that the arms can be readily snapped into position on the body, and can likewise be,

may be stacked one upon the other whether filled or empty. Due to the fact that the arms 43 are normally sprung apart, these arms exert frictional engagement with the edges of the slots 21 so as to resist accidental movement of Due to the fact that the arms incline toward each other at the top, the spring action renders the handle easily depressible because this direction of movementis aided by the spring laction of the arms themselves.' On the other hand, when the handle is being used to carry the basket, the weight of the basket readily vovercomes any tendency of -the handle to move down with respect to the basket or the basket to move up with respect to the handle. It will further be noted that the prongsand aaiasoo by the depressing of the handle is more easily,

eli'ected. After the handle is moved inwardly to an extent which causes the arms 43 toiree themselves from engagement with the edges of the slots 2l, the remaining portion Aof the inwardmovement is effected purely by manual operation against the friction on'the inside-of the side walls.

The partition means 22 provided for this basket is adapted to be placed between the layers oi 'fruits or vegetables therein to prevent the upper layer from inJuring the lower layer,.and

side tongues t6 adapted to engage in slots t1 provided in the inner sections 24|' of the side walls, said tongues 46 being covered by the outer wall section 2t and being thereby hidden from view from the outside of the basket. An opening B8 may also be provided in the partition for lso inserting a finger to remove the partition from the basket. The tongues d6 at the intermediate part of the side are spaced sulciently apart so as to facilitate the descending of prongs Bt therebetween when the handle is'moved to its depressed or inactive position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7.

Due mainly to the double wall construction and the improved interlocking arrangement,'and as indicated in Figs. 10 and ll,`the basket is well, adapted to be made from single face corrugated material, as well as from multiple face material as indicated in 'the other disclosed forms.

This basket t@ of the single face material is constructed substantially like the' foregoing bas. ket 20, and it similarly comprises the handle 5| with its depending pronged arms 5|'. The basket includes the bottom 53 from which the outer vsections 5B of the two side walls are bent upward and. have the inner sections 55' bent down inwardly from their upper edges to the bottom 53. The top edge 56 of each side wall has aslot 57 therein for eceivingthe pronged arm 5|' of the handle, as in the preceding form. The end walls have their outer sections G0 bent un from the bottom 53, and the inner sections 60' are bent down inwardly from their upper edges to' the bottom.

This form also contains the double locking. means between the end walls and the side walls, including the locking tongues or tabs 63 extending from the inner end sections 60. adapted to engage in notches 6d in the inner side sections 54'; and notches 66 are likewise provided on end sections 60'; extending from Ytongues 83 to the top. It also includes the second set of interlocking means having flaps 8l on the ends of the outer sections 54 aps having the notches B9 `therein and the tongues 69 to interengage and securely hold the parts together. It also includes the short naps ortabs 69 extending from the side wall Asections 54' into the end walls; and a'tab' together with a notched'flap 81 extend across the entire end, as indicatedin end section 60' is folded inwardly over the interilocked -iaps 6l, and the tongues 89 are engaged of the side walls, said` Fig. 10. 'I'he innen In kthis form the handle l"is.also"'readily attachable to and detachable from theba'skeaand its deecting pronged arms 15|?- are readily movable thru-slotsl downfbebwee` in the same mannergjasl with notches u. thus!insisting the liti'iiiietI serecedingform.

Figs. 12 to lfillustratethe limpijovedmarket basket as containing" ag; nioizliiied'form of inter-` engaging means infits end 'walls ,.difl'ering from the foregoing disclosure.

ThisV basketcomprises fthe'basket body I0 formed from a s'ingle'rblank of material, also `the handle 1| with 'its-dpending pronged arms 1| readily attachableto and removable from the basket body. and the partition 'l2 is readily insertable in and removable from said body.

TheY basket body 10 ,comprises the bottom 19 from which the outer sections 'I4 of the f side walls are turned up, and from the top edges Sail. this srtition ineens is referebi rovided with\` 0f. which depend the inner sections it' to the p p y p bottom 1e. seid top edges is have e. pair or,

slots 'Il which receive the pronged-arms 'il' of the handle, being readily insertable and removable, and also being readily depressible to place the top of the handle ush with the top edges le;

In this form of basket the end walls each comprise oneend section bent up from the bottom 13 and provided with a. pair oitongues 88 at its sides engaging in a pair of notches @d provided on the adjacent ends of the inner sections 'Ml of the side walls. A ap el extends from each end of the outer side wall section 'it and is provided with a notch 88 forming a tongue 89, one extending upward` and the otherl downward to interengagefas shown in the drawings, and these provide the second section of this end wall and the second interengaging means thereof to interlock the parts securely in posi tion. These aps 8l are preferably placed out# ward of section 80, and an extension or auniliary flap on the upperr end of each ap @l is folded inwardly over the top edgeof section 80, substantially as shown in the drawings, thus gaging means in its end walls. This basket also comprisesthe basket body |00 made from a single blank of material, alsothe removable handie |0| with its depending pronged arms IM', and the removable partition |02, like in the above disclosed forms.

The body .loo comprises the bottom m from' which the outer sections |04 of the side walls varise, and frd'm the top edge |06 of each section the inner section |04' depends to the bottom |03. Said top edges |06 have slots |01 therein which receive-the pronged arms Ill' of the handle, to be readily insertable and removable, and also to bedepresse d onto the side 'sec-l tions, as explained above.

In this form the end wall comprises an end section H0 bent up from thebottom |03, and

provided with n slot m therein.V A nop in extends from each end'of each outer side wall section M .venu has a noten i is eut therein ionn- 75 ing a depending tongue IIS, a pair of tongues of the two adjacent aps being engaged in the slot of the associated end section |`|0, thereby providing an outer end section and one interengaging or interlocking means of this end wall. A pair of extensions or auxiliary apsl|20 exltend from the top ofthe two iiaps ||1 and are bent over section ||li inwardly down to bottom |03, each having a tongue |2| extending laterally into a notch |22 provided on the inner section |04' of the side wall. These two extensions p viding double interengaging means for holding thewall sections securely in the set-up position; and it produces `a strong market basket with its double side walls and end walls.

The novel arrangement of the handle inconjunction with the double wall sections of the basket provides for readily depressing the arms and prongs between said sections, so as to place* the handle top iiush with the top oi.' the basket,

as well as to raise it for carrying the basket; and the prongs are at all times embedded between said sections and covered thereby, no stapling or cleating ofv the handle being necessary, thus preventing bruising the contents or scratching a person; while the operative connection between the handle and the basket is not weakened by this arrangement, nor the utility of the handle for carrying the basket'.

I claim:

1. A basket comprising walls including two opposite ones having inner and outer sections provided with slots in the inner sections, and partition means having tongues insertable in said slots, adapted to separate and protect a lower layer of articles from the upper layer, said tongues being covered and hidden from view by the outer wall sections.

2. A basket comprising-a bottom and double side and end walls, said side walls including an outer section turned up from the bottom and having an inner section turned down therefrom and engaging the bottom, there being slots provided in the inner sections of the side walls, and a partition having side tongues engaging in said slots, adapted to separate the layers of Aarticles in the basket, said tongues and partitionsbeing covered and concealed by the outer wall sections, thereby providing a smooth interio'r for the articles and also a neat exterior.

3. A basket comprising a bottom and side and end walls formed of a single substantially rectangular blank of material, the side walls each including a section turnedup from the bottom and another section turned down from said section to the bottom, the end walls being turned up f from the bottom, interengaging means on the side and end walls, including interengaging notch and tongue means on the inner sections of the side walls and on the end walls, and flaps on the outer sections of the side walls including interengaging notch and tongue means joined across the end of the basket, thereby providing double end walls and double interlocking means.

4. A basket comprising a bottom and integral Walls arising therefrom including a pair of opposite walls having each an inner and an outer section joined at the top and provided with a slot in the closed top edge, and a handle includlng a substantially straight upper part having a pair of arm means depending from its ends and each arm means comprising a pair of spring members each having a prong thereon extending in opposite directions therefrom, the arm means extending thru the slots and together with the prongs being depressible between the wall sections, so as to place the upper part of the .handle down onto the top edge of the basket, said spring members of each of said arm means being held under initial compression when said handle is in elevated position.

5. The combination of a basket having a bottom, end walls and side walls, in which the side walls comprise an outer wall section extending upwardly from said bottom, a relatively narrow top edge panel and an inner wall section spaced from said outer wall section and extending downwardly to said bottom from the inner edge of said panel and in which said top edge panel is slotted adjacent the mid-section of said sideY wall to provide handle-receiving slots, and a handle comprising a cross gripping member and depending arms at each end thereof, each arm consisting of a pair oi diverging spring members each having -an angularly disposed prong at its lower end, said diverging spring members being held in said slots, respectively, under initial compression with said prongs engaging the undersides of said top edge panels when said handle is in elevated position, and being adapted to be moved downwardly in the space between said wall sections.

6.y The combination of a basket having a bottom, end walls and side walls, in which .the side walls comprise an outer wall section extending upwardly from said bottom, a relatively -narrow top edge panel and an inner wall section spaced from said outer wall section and extending downwardly to said bottom from the inner edge of said panel and in which said top edge panel is slotted adJacent the mid-section of said side wall to provide handle-receiving s lots, and

a handle comprising a cross gripping member' and depending arms at each end thereof, each arm consisting of a pair of diverging spring members each having an angularly disposed prong at its lower end, said diverging spring members being held in said slots, respectively, under initial compression with said prongs engaging the undersldes of said top edge panels when said handle is in elevated position, and being adapted to be moved downwardly in the space between said wall sections, said arms and -prongs having frictional engagement with a portion of the inside surface of said side walls..

FRANK RoKoL. 

